A location near the Colorado Springs Airport will soon feature 160 acres of resources aimed at providing you with reliable and cost-effective energy for years to come.
Known as the Horizon Utility Campus, the site already includes a new electric substation opened in 2024. Within the next three years, other additions will include:
- 400 megawatts (MW) of new natural gas-fueled electric generators
- 100 MW of battery energy storage
- Two natural gas gate stations
Horizon’s 400 MW of natural gas-based generation will include 10 individual generating units that will be similar to the generators located on the former site of the Martin Drake Power Plant. The technology is highly efficient and produces fewer emissions than other options.
The 100 MW of battery energy storage will likely mirror the size and appearance of our first system located at the Jackson Fuller Substation in northeastern Colorado Springs, near East Woodmen Road and Golden Sage Road.
Natural gas-based electric generation and battery energy system storage will allow us to make a careful transition to new technologies and renewable resources without compromising the reliability of our services.
Project timeline
• Q1 2025: Project kickoff
• Q2 & Q3 2025: Public meeting & community engagement opportunities
• Q2 2026: Air permit issued
• Q2 2026: Construction starts
• Q2 2028: Natural gas generators and gate stations complete
• Q4 2029: Battery storage complete
How to engage
As a citizen of Colorado Springs, you own your utility. We are committed to keeping you informed and providing meaningful opportunities for you to have a voice in making utility decisions that impact our community.
To stay up to date with information about the Horizon Utility Campus project:
- Read this blog with updates about our energy transition.
- Email engage@csu.org with questions or concerns
- Leave a message at (719) 668-7765 for our Community Engagement team. We respond in 24 business hours.
- Do you have specific feedback about this project? Fill out this form to share your comments.
